Chinese envoy speaks to Meng Wanzhou by phone, sends message for Canada to rectify ‘serious mistake’

‘Any action to bully or oppress the Chinese people will be met with a painful strike,’ Cong Peiwu tells detained Huawei executive

Cong made the call on the eve of the 1000-day anniversary of Meng’s arrest, offering her his deep sympathy and condolences

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Huawei Technologies chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on August 16, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:00pm, 26 Aug 2021Updated: 5:52am, 25 Dec 2021

China’s ambassador to Canada has urged the country to rectify its “serious mistake” in the handling of the US extradition request for Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou during a phone conversation with Meng on Wednesday.

The phone call came weeks ahead of an expected ruling on the Huawei chief financial officer’s extradition to the US.

China's Ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

During the call, ambassador Cong Peiwu accused Canadian authorities of taking “wrong actions”, according to a statement by the embassy on Wednesday. He emphasised to Meng that China would defend the legal rights of its citizens and enterprises.

“Any action to bully or oppress the Chinese people will be met with a painful strike,” Cong said during the exchange.

Cong made the call on the eve of the 1,000-day anniversary of Meng’s arrest, offering the Huawei executive his deep sympathy and condolences.

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